Setting control using edges of a user interface

• US 7,712,039 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Banks, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore; William L
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEATON, SHERROD L
• Application Number:
  US11/394,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20070240074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715/771, 715/779, 715/716, 715/788, 715/772, 715/859, 345/156
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0606 Manual adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A setting control may be mapped to an edge of a user interface to facilitate control of various settings and access thereto. The mapping may be implemented based on a number of setting values associated with the setting control and a size of a specified edge of the user interface. Additionally, multiple edges of a user interface may be mapped to a variety of setting controls. The edge-mapped setting controls may also be automatically reconfigured according to user preferences and interaction with the interface. Indicators are also generated to provide visual indications about the setting controls and/or a current setting. The appearance of indicators may be altered to convey a variety of information such as the current setting of a control or the type of setting control.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for adjusting the placement of a setting control on a display screen of a monitor, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a length of a complete edge of the display screen of the monitor;

determining a scale of setting values associated with a setting control, wherein the scale of setting values is determined based on the determined length of the complete edge of the display screen of the monitor;

mapping the scale of setting values to the determined length of the complete edge of the display screen of the monitor; and

displaying an indicator located at a position along and connected to the complete edge of the display screen of the monitor, wherein the position of the indicator corresponds to a value of the setting control, and wherein changing the value of the setting from a first value to a second value alters the position of the indicator to correspond to the second value.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the appearance of the indicator changes in accordance with a current value of the setting control.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the size of the indicator changes in accordance with a current value of the setting control.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the setting control includes a volume control.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a scale of setting values includes determining a number of setting values that fit on the complete edge of the display screen of the monitor.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

associating the setting control with a first application, wherein a current focus of the display screen of the monitor corresponds to the first application;

receiving user input corresponding to interaction with a second application;

changing the current focus of the display screen of the monitor to the second application; and

in response to changing the current focus, associating the setting control with the second application.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising generating a plurality of indicators, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a different application associated with the display screen of the monitor.

8. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for mapping a setting control for at least one hardware device to a display screen of a monitor, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a screen of a monitor, wherein the display screen of the monitor includes a first complete edge and a second complete edge;

determining a length of the first complete edge;

determining a length of the second complete edge;

mapping a first setting control for a first hardware device to the length of the first complete edge and a second setting control for a second hardware device to the length of the second complete edge, wherein the first and second setting controls correspond to at least one application;

generating a first and a second indicator, wherein the first indicator corresponds to the first setting control for the first hardware device and the second indicator corresponds to the second setting control for the second hardware device;

displaying the first indicator located at a position along and connected to the first complete edge of the display screen of the monitor, wherein the position of the first indicator corresponds to a current value of the first setting control, and wherein changing the current value of the setting to another value alters the position of the first indicator to correspond to the other value; and

displaying the second indicator located at a position along and connected to the second complete edge of the display screen of the monitor, wherein the position of the second indicator corresponds to a current value of the second setting control, and wherein changing the current value of the setting to another value alters the position of the second indicator to correspond to the other value.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the step of mapping a second setting control for the second hardware device to the second complete edge depends on a setting of the first setting control for the first hardware device.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further including the step of remapping the second setting control for the second hardware device to the second complete edge in response to detecting a change in a current setting value of the first setting control for the first hardware device.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further including the step of modifying the appearance of the first indicator in response to a change in a current setting value of the first setting control for the first hardware device.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further including the step of generating a third indicator associated with the first setting control for the first hardware device in response to detecting user interaction with the first setting control for the first hardware device.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first complete edge and the second complete edge are adjoined and wherein a first portion of the first setting control for the first hardware device is mapped to the first complete edge and a second portion of the first setting control for the first hardware device is mapped to the second complete edge.

14. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining a length of a complete edge of a display screen of a monitor;

mapping a setting control for a hardware device to the complete edge of the display screen of the monitor, wherein the setting control for the hardware device includes a plurality of setting values corresponding to the entire length of the complete edge of the display screen of the monitor, and a first and a second indicator;

displaying a first indicator at a position along and connected to the complete edge of the display screen of the monitor in accordance with a current value of the setting control for the hardware device;

detecting user interaction with the setting control for the hardware device; and

in response to detecting the user interaction, displaying the second indicator having an appearance in accordance with a current value of the setting control for the hardware device;

adjusting the position of the first indicator and the appearance of the second indicator in response to a change in the current value of the setting control;

associating the setting control for the hardware device with a first application, wherein a current focus of the display screen of the monitor corresponds to the first application;

receiving user input corresponding to interaction with a second application;

changing the current focus of the display screen of the monitor to the second application; and

in response to changing the current focus, associating the setting control for the hardware device with the second application.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the step of detecting user interaction with the setting control for the hardware device further includes determining whether a user controlled cursor is within a predefined proximity to at least one of the complete edges of the display screen of the monitor, the first indicator and the second indicator.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the step of mapping the setting control for the hardware device to the complete edge of the display screen of the monitor includes determining a size of the complete edge of the display screen of the monitor.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the setting control for the hardware device further includes a setting selection element, wherein the setting selection element includes a plurality of settings for the hardware device.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further including the steps of:

receiving user input corresponding to a selection, from the setting selection element, of a new setting for the hardware device, wherein the setting control for the hardware device is associated with a current setting; and

mapping a new plurality of setting values associated with the selected new setting for the hardware device to the complete edge of the display screen of the monitor in response to the user selection.